★★★★ “This rich new play by Howard Brenton juggles big themes with breathtaking agility … A treasure.” The Times

★★★★“A magnetic cast … mesmerising.” Daily Mail

★★★★“Littler pitches proceedings perfectly.” Financial Times

★★★★“Brenton charts Strindberg’s psychotic breakdown with flair in a compelling and at times hilarious play.” Arts Desk

★★★★“Jasper Britton gives a superb performance.” London Box Office

★★★★“Excellent performances by all four actors.” LondonTheatre

Howard Brenton’s new play tells the astonishing story of August Strindberg’s ‘Inferno’ period. For four years in fin-de-siècle Paris, Europe’s most famous playwright vanished. Most people thought he had gone insane. When he reappeared, his new plays changed theatre forever.

Abandoning theatre, living a life of squalid splendour, Strindberg practises alchemy. In his hotel room, he attempts to make gold by finding the philosopher’s stone, the secret of creation. As his grasp of reality weakens his first two wives visit him to bring him to his senses. But their interventions spin out of control. And – are they really his wives at all?

Multi award-winning playwright Howard Brenton has written numerous plays for the National Theatre, RSC, Shakespeare’s Globe, Hampstead Theatre and the Royal Court. He was also lead writer on the early seasons of Spooks (BBC). The Blinding Light was specially commissioned by Jermyn Street Theatre.

Director Tom Littler is Artistic Director of Jermyn Street Theatre. His previous productions of Howard Brenton’s Bloody Poetry and Dances of Death were highly acclaimed.

This play runs 90 minutes – without an interval – No latecomers. No Re-Admission

Show Times

Monday to Saturday 7.30pm. Saturday Matinees 3.30pm

Tickets

Please note that after Saturday 23 September all tickets are full price.

ESCAPE Season Tickets cost £100 and include one ticket and a drink of your choice at all of The Blinding Light, Anything That Flies, Miss Julie, and The Hound of the Baskervilles. Bookable only via theatre box office (0207 287 2875)